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| Kuching Street 1941 (Ramond Allas) from Glimpses of Sarawak (The Final Exodus by JB Archer) |
My father related the pain he suffered when the Japanese arrived in Kuching during one of our evening meals. As the sun rays slanted through the wooden shutters, interpersed by the jumping shadows of the rubber tree leaves, he would slowly tell us stories at our Brooke Drive house in Sibu. It was his way of teaching us moral values and to remember important things in life. Evening meals were the quality time he spent with us, after he had come home from work , after a round or two of mahjong at the Sibu Recreation Club.
We would be so eager to listen to his stories, or his history.
"The air was thick with blackclouds, but the blackclouds were actually Japanese air planes. The people of Kuching were still unaware that in the next three years life would be hard for every one. One of the bombs was dropped right in front of my Sarawak Times office but luckily no one was killed. My business was literally bombed. And your grandfather immediately sent word that I must leave every thing and come home to Sibu, which I did. What could I do any way? If I had stayed on, with my kind of background, the Japanese would definitely execute me straightaway."
And he continued to tell us : "What can Magali soldiers do?"
He was referring to the Punjab Regiment in Kuching. The whites had all left and there was no more government of the day." My father's understanding of government, governance, the governing and the governed was more advance than most people's. He had lived in Beijing for so many years before returning with a degree in Economics and Journalism from the Yenching university. Most of his professors and lecturers were Americans (including Bliss Wiant, the music professor).
And he continued to tell us : "What can Magali soldiers do?"
He was referring to the Punjab Regiment in Kuching. The whites had all left and there was no more government of the day." My father's understanding of government, governance, the governing and the governed was more advance than most people's. He had lived in Beijing for so many years before returning with a degree in Economics and Journalism from the Yenching university. Most of his professors and lecturers were Americans (including Bliss Wiant, the music professor).
The Japanese air force had already bombed Singakawang airfield to deter any Dutch attack. They drove off a lone Dutch submarine and then entered the mouth fo the Santubong River on 23rd December.
The 2nd Battalion of the 15th Punjab Regiment which was stationed in Kuching, was the sole Allied Infantry unit in Borneo. Although they resisted the Japanese attack on the airfield, they were soon outnumbered and retreated by the Santubong River.
ON 25th December, Japanese troops captured Kuching airfield, and the Punjab Regiment retreated through the jungle to the Singkawang area. Other British and Dutch troops retreated towards the Dutch airfield at Kotawaringin.
Most Foochow businessmen and their families quickly boarded whatever boats they could find and returned to Sibu to their family homes.
(There were also tales of Ibans who were working in Kuching which related how they escaped from Kuching, and walked all their way back to Betong, Simanggang and Saratok. )
(There were also tales of Ibans who were working in Kuching which related how they escaped from Kuching, and walked all their way back to Betong, Simanggang and Saratok. )
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